Defcon

Heading into the summer hacker conferences can be overwhelming. Demonstrations, panels and talks across multiple events events as in sames week - DEFCON 25, Black Hat 2017, BSidesLV - combined with all the parties (and meetings) made for an action packed week! With our social calendar full and our demonstrations in tow, the GRIMM team found itself in the spotlight while showcasing some of the most innovative cybersecurity research and intelligence on connected vehicles, IoT, smart homes, smart grids and ICS security up and down the Vegas Strip.

“Howdy Neighbor” is GRIMM’s Internet of Things (IoT) Capture the Flag (CTF)-like challenge. As smart devices become ubiquitous within the common household, so are threats to these devices. For example, last year, it was reported that researchers could use a smart lightbulb network vulnerability to attack an entire city. Howdy Neighbor is a model smart house that simulates how multiple interactive “smart” home products, including webcams, smoke detectors, power meters, HVAC systems, smart ovens and refrigerators, video game consoles, smart TVs, toasters, coffee makers, locks, and light bulbs (etc.

“3PO” is GRIMM’s mobile car hacking lab. Since nearly every modern car is Internet-connected, you no longer need physical access to break out of, or break into a vehicle. Hackers prove vehicles are not only insecure from a cybersecurity perspective, but because of that, also unsafe. From controlling the steering, accelerating, braking, and communications, this presents an extremely large attack surface. As automotive original equipment manufactures (OEM) and their Tier 1 direct suppliers have become more aware of the threat, their need for end-to-end hardware and software vulnerability assessments has grown.